St. John's Episcopal School Opening Plan 2021-2022
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St. John’s Episcopal School
Opening Plan 2021-2022
St. John’s Episcopal School, Proudly Celebrating
65 Years in Episcopal Education and 55 Years as a Carden SchoolIntroduction
As St. John’s Episcopal School opens for the 2021-2022 school year, we offer
the following protocols, guidelines and considerations to help protect the St.
John’s family. The health and safety of the students, teachers, administrators,
and staff as well as slowing the spread of COVID-19 is of utmost importance.
This guide is created in alignment with best practices as recommended or
mandated by
● Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Northwest Texas
● St. John’s Church
● Texas State Governor Greg Abbott
● Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
● Texas Department of state Health Services (DSHS)
● Texas Education Agency (TEA)
● Southwestern Association of Episcopal schools (SAES)
● Texas Private School Association (TPSA)
● American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
These protocols and considerations are meant to supplement-not replace-any
state or local safety laws, rules, and regulations with which the school must
comply.
Guiding Principles
● Make every effort to protect the health and safety of students and staff
● Adhere to guidelines established by local, state, and federal authorities
● Uphold the high-quality education and support families expect from St.
John’s, regardless of the learning context
● Face to face instruction offers the best academic and social-emotional
support for students
● The more people a student, staff member or family member interacts
with, and the longer that interaction, the higher the risk of COVID-19
spread
2● To the best extent possible, the following procedures can reduce, but not
eliminate, the risk of spreading COVID-19
○ Small Class Sizes
○ Maintain social distance of 3 to 6 feet apart and do not share
objects
○ Utilize and practice daily handwashing and sanitizing upon
entering and exiting the building.
○ Respect others and self by staying home when sick
○ Limit access to campus to those essential to school operations
○ Thorough daily environmental cleaning and disinfection
General Guidelines
Masks (Face Coverings)
Schools are required to comply with the governor’s executive order regarding
the wearing of masks. For the purpose of this document, “masks” include
non-medical grade, disposable face masks that cover the nose and mouth.
Face coverings are meant to protect others in case of asymptomatic wearers
who are unknowingly infected.
A face mask may not have a valve or vent. The valve or vent allows the exhaled
air to be released unfiltered.
● At this time St. John’s is allowing the wearing of a mask optional for our
faculty, staff, and students.
● Faculty, staff, and students who choose to wear a mask will not be
discriminated against in any way.
Hygiene
St. John’s asks families to partner with us to teach and reinforce hand washing
with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
● St. John’s students, faculty and staff will be required to perform frequent
hand washing throughout the day.
● Teachers will review proper hand watching with the students.
3● Hand sanitizer is available in all rooms and common areas of the school.
● Foot door pulls will be attached to doors in order to avoid using handles.
● Hand sanitizing stations will be at all entry points on campus..
● Students, teachers, staff, and campus visitors are to sanitize and/or wash
hands frequently, especially:
● Upon entry/exit
● Before eating food
● After using the toilet
● After coughing, sneezing, or blowing one’s nose.
● Proper etiquette for covering coughs and sneezes will be taught. This
includes:
○ Using a tissue or elbow
○ Washing hands or using hand sanitizer after a cough or sneeze
● School will provide adequate supplies, including soap, hand sanitizer,
paper towels, tissues, and disinfectant wipes.
● Families are welcome to provide their children with personal/travel sized
hand sanitizer to keep in their desk. Any supplies brought to school are
subject to oversight by the faculty and staff to ensure proper and safe
use.
Cleaning and Disinfection
● We will have a cleaning staff disinfect common areas and restrooms each
day. All classrooms, restrooms, offices and other common spaces will be
disinfected daily. Disinfectant will also be used on all contact surfaces.
● Each teacher is supplied with cleaning supplies
● When cleaning supplies are used, spaces will be properly ventilated.
Ventilation and Air Quality
St. John’s will ensure that our ventilation systems operate properly and are
cleaned. We will also increase circulation of outdoor air as much as possible,
4for example by opening doors or windows. We will NOT open doors when
doing so poses a safety or health risk to children and staff.
Water Systems
Drinking fountains have been shut down. The school has filtered water bottle
filling stations on campus. Students and staff are expected to bring their own
refillable bottle to use. Water bottles may not be shared. Please make sure
bottles are clearly marked with one’s name. Bottles found that are not
identifiable will be thrown away.
Campus Visitors
● Campus visitors, including parents, will not be allowed on campus on a
regular basis. Only St. John’s employees, staff, students and essential
workers will be allowed into the building.
Visitors will be allowed on the campus for special programs and
meetings, and are encouraged to practice social distancing (3-6 feet
apart).
● In the event you need to pick up a sick student, check in with the school
office and the student will be brought to you to be signed out.
School Calendar
● At this time, there are no planned changes to the start and end dates on
our school calendar. All major holiday breaks will remain the same.
● We regret that we must cancel our Open Houses, in person fall/spring
Book Fairs, luncheons and in person pageants. We recognize these
events are cherished by all of us, but we must prioritize the safety of our
school community.
● Open houses, programs, and pageants are being planned. We will make
every effort to keep to the social distance rule, so that we may keep our
St. John’s family safe and healthy.
Campus Operations
● Drop off times are from 7:30-8:30 in the gym, not the office. When
dropping off a student parents are asked to remain in their cars.
5○ Pre-School 3’s and Pre-K 4’s will go to designated rooms before
class.
○ At 8:00am Middle School students will proceed to their
classrooms.
○ At 8:15am 1st-5th grade teachers will accompany students to their
classrooms.
○ At 8:25 Pre-School 3’s-Kindergarten teachers will accompany
their students to class.
● Late arrivals-students arriving after 8:30 will be escorted by a parent to
the office and the parent will sign them in. Students will not be allowed
entry without an adult.
Student Pick-Up Times and Locations
Parents-please do not exit your cars. Students will be accompanied by a staff
member to your vehicle.
● Pre-School 3’s and Pre K 4’s not staying for extended day will be picked
up at the gym entrance from 11:45-12:00noon.
● Kindergarteners not staying for extended day will be picked up at the
gym entrance 2:30-2:45.
● 1st graders and 2nd graders not staying for extended day will be picked up
at the gym entrance from 3:00-3:15.
● 3rd – 5th graders not staying for extended day will be picked up at the
gym entrance from 3:45-4:00.
● Middle School Students not staying for extended day will be picked up at
the parking lot on 5th street across from the teacher parking lot at 4:00-
4:15 pm.
Extended Day
● St. John’s will continue to offer Extended Day.
● Students will be required to wash their hands before transitioning to
Extended Day.
● All school rules and procedures will be followed for the student’s health
and safety.
● Parents will come to the school office to sign out Extended Day students
who will then come to the office to be picked up.
6Classrooms
● Hand sanitizer is available for use in all classrooms.
Shared Objects and Personal Items
● School supplies will not be shared among students. Each student will
have his or her own container of supplies. If supplies must be shared, it
will be limited.
● There will be limited use of supplies and equipment by one group of
children at a time and clean, store, and disinfect between use. This
includes, but is not limited to the gym, PE equipment, art equipment,
toys, books games, and learning resources.
● Each student’s belongings will be kept separated from others’ and in
individually labeled containers, cubbies, lockers, or other areas.
Lunch
● Students will have the option of bringing their own lunch or ordering
through the vendors on the monthly menu (which will begin in
September).
● Students will need to bring their own water bottle each day.
● Unfortunately, parents may not eat with their child while we are the
current guidelines for opening schools.
● Students will not be allowed to share food.
● In the event a student would like to share a special snack (cupcakes or
cookies) with the class in celebration of a birthday, the teacher will wear
gloves when passing out the snack.
Teaching/Instruction
● We are committed to providing a fulfilling experience at St. John’s. Our
goal is to start the school year with all students and teachers in classes
on campus while staying healthy and safe.
● We are committed to on-campus, in-person instruction, but we are also
planning for teaching/learning scenarios in which some students and/or
staff may be unable to attend class, as well as the possibility of mandated
school closure.
School Hours
7Pre-School 3’s and Pre-K 4’s: 8:30-11:45
Kindergarten: 8:30-2:30
1st and 2nd grades: 8:30-3:00
3rd-5th grades: 8:30-3:45
Middle School: 8:00-4:00
Software Tools
Google Accounts and the G Suite for Education
● A Google account will be created for each student in Grades 1st -8th. The
account provides supervised access to the G Suite for Education. The G
Suite for Education is a collection of secure online tools that include:
Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Drawing, Classroom, and others.
Student Email
● The student Google account provides a secure and supervised email
account. This email account is used to verify student identity and grant
access to the G Suite tools and other instructional tools. Functionality of
the email account will vary by grade. 1st - 5th grades will not have use of
the email functions. Communication with younger students will be
through a Learning Management System (LMS) such as Google
Classroom.
Google Classroom
● Google Classroom is a Learning Management System (LMS). All
teachers of students in 1st - 8th grades will have the ability to manage a
Google Classroom for their students. Students will join classes and their
parents/guardians will receive an invitation to receive summaries of
class activity. Instructions on how to access your child’s account will be
communicated to you in the beginning of the school year. Each student
will also be trained when they return in the fall on the procedures of
accessing and using Google Classroom and other G Suite tools.
FACTS/RenWeb
Facts/RenWeb is St. John’s Student Information System (SIS). This student
database provides scheduling, attendance, grading, progress reports, report
cards, and communication tools.
8Other Technology Tools
Teachers may use other apps and websites to support learning and instruction.
These tools may include but are not limited to the following:
EdPuzzle
Kahoot
Quizlet
Flipgrid
Khan Academy
Zoom
Athletics
At this time we are planning on resuming competitive athletics and have been
in communication with other schools as well as TAPS. These sports include
basketball, volleyball, and track. Please be aware that sporting events may be
canceled due to policies set for by the CDC, local and state official, or by the
Bishop of the Northwest Diocese.
Special Area Classes
● Students will be able to go to each special area class.
Health and Wellness
● Our return to campus will require shared responsibility among all St.
John’s Episcopal School families in supporting the SJES health and safety
protocols. We are relying on parents to keep their children home when
they are not feeling well. We will be educating our students with explicit
instructions on health and safety procedures.
● An isolation area is being prepared to care for any student exhibiting
potential COVID-19 symptoms while at school. Mrs. Kirk or an office
staffer will stay with the child until a parent arrives to take them home.
Maintaining Healthy Campus Operations
St. John’s is implementing several strategies to maintain healthy campus
operations.
9Regulatory Awareness
St. John’s will maintain active awareness of local or state regulatory agency
policies related to group gatherings to determine if events can be held.
Events, Field Trips, and Visitors
● All school or large group gatherings and events must adhere to
regulations and school safety procedures.
● Visits to campus will be limited to those essential to daily school
operations. In the event there is a scheduled meeting or an emergency,
visitors must check in at the school office.
Staff Training
All staff members will be trained in all safety protocols. These include hand
washing, use and storage of cleaning products, transitions, and class setup for
social distancing
Supporting Students Who Are Not On Campus for Limited Times
If members of our school community cannot be on campus temporarily due to
extenuating circumstances, St. John’s will continue to serve these students’
needs through online instruction and support.
Campus Closure
There may be times during the school year due to acute or widespread COVID-
19 outbreaks when school operations must move off campus for an extended
period.
Examples of such situations include:
● Directions by local, state, or federal officials to close school campuses
● An outbreak in a class that requires a grade level, or grade levels, to stay
at home based on the guidance in this document
● A decision by the Board of Trustees and school administration to move to
distance education
Distance Learning: St. John’s Online
10The goal of SJES Online is to provide the whole-child education parents expect
from SJES to students who cannot be on campus due to campus closures.
Guiding Principles of St. John’s Online
The following principles guide the St. John’s Online program.
● Whole class instruction, discussion, feedback, and check-ins are
important and support our relationship-based approach to learning.
Teachers will check in with the whole class using video conferencing
technology (Zoom, Google Meet, etc.) and the Google Classroom
interface.
● One-on-one personalized guidance is also a critical piece to the St.
John’s program. Teachers will also set up live help sessions using the
save video conferencing interface as with the whole class.
● Teachers will teach the grade level curriculum and the topics contained
therein.
● Class meetings, extra help sessions with teachers, and pre-recorded
lessons will be incorporated in a daily schedule. The length of each
scheduled activity depends on the age of the student and nature of work
to be completed.
● St. John’s Online will schedule times and activities to invest in the
spiritual, social, and emotional well-being of students.
● Parents are not expected to provide primary instruction. Teachers are
responsible for instruction, first tier academic support, and assessment.
● Time management can be a challenge for students, and in distance
learning there are not as many built-in reminders about upcoming due
dates as there are with on-campus instruction. In addition to the
support provided by teachers, students will need parental help with
keeping track of assignments, due dates, and similar skills related to
executive function and time management.
● We will ensure open lines of communication between teacher, student,
and parent as we work together to ensure each student is challenged
intellectually and supported emotionally.
● Parents will have access to Google Classroom as well as their student’s
grades through their Parent Portal Account in FACTS.
● All video conferencing sessions will be done in a safe and appropriate
manner. We will utilize safe practices at all times. This includes being
professionally dressed, professionally presentable, and holding sessions
11in a public setting on one’s home. Video sessions cannot be done in a
person’s bedroom, bathroom, or another space that presents a challenge
with potential professional boundary issues.
● Students are expected to attend class and complete assignments as
attendance and grades will be taken.
● Traditional testing and grading techniques may be adjusted as necessary
to best address the needs of the class
● Video sessions may be recorded and posted to Google Classroom or to a
private YouTube channel in order to preserve the lesson or support the
needs of students who benefit from the ability to rewatch a session.
● Behavioral expectations using online classes is the same as in-person
classes. Students and teachers are expected to act and communicate in
an appropriate manner that follows SJES expectations.
Transition to St. John’s Online
If there is a move of the entire school to an extended period of distance
education, the school will follow a three-step process:
1. Transition-distribution of materials needed for start-up, retrieval of
student belongings, review of updated distance education schedules and
logistics, and preparation of learning locations at homes.
2. Revie and Troubleshooting- Distance education classes meet to review
processes and procedures, identify and address technical issues, and set
adjusted classroom norms and routines for distance learning.
3. Instruction- Lessons commence.
The length of time for each step will vary depending on Division. Older
students may move through the process quickly while younger students will
require more time. Teachers will adjust timelines as needed to ensure that
students are able to be successful in a distance education environment.
St. John’s Online: Pre-School 3’s through 5th Grade
The instructional day will be structured to ensure there are enough minutes
devoted to each subject area. The day will consist of a mix of live instruction
and out-of-class activities. Teachers will be able to adjust the schedule to
meet student needs.
Daily live instruction may include activities such as:
12Preschool through Kindergarten
● Mini-lessons led by the teacher
● Circle time/Check ins
● Read alouds
● Small group reading instruction
● Number talks/Saxon math instruction
● Small group discussions
● Music and Spanish instruction
● Show-and-tell when appropriate for younger students
1st -2nd Grades
● For older students-spelling and language arts lessons, research papers,
science fair projects,
● Saxon math instruction
● Small group discussions
● Music and Spanish instruction
● Mini-lessons led by the teacher
● Read alouds
Daily out-of-class assignments are to be completed independently. These may
include but are not limited to activities such as:
● Student required reading and writing
● Writing assignments
● Independent skill practice
● Small projects
● Preparing presentations
St. John’s Online: Middle School
Classes will follow the class scheduling for on-campus learning. The schedules
may be altered or adjusted as all classes will meet.
The curriculum is the same used for school on-campus. The amount of teacher
supervisions for collaborative projects and group work will depend on the age
of the student.
13About COVID – 19—St. John’s COVID Protocols
Symptoms of COVID-19
People with COVID-19 may have had a wide range of symptoms. These may
appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms may
have COVID-19.
● Fever or chills
● Cough
● Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
● Fatigue
● Muscle or body aches
● Headache
● New loss of taste or smell
● Sore throat
● Congestion or runny nose
● Nausea or vomiting
● Diarrhea
This list does not include all possible symptoms. As more is learned, the CDC
will update the list of symptoms and St. John’s will adjust procedures
accordingly.
Definition of Close Contact
This document refers to “close contact” with an individual who is lab-
confirmed to have COVID-19. Close contact is defined as:
● Being directly exposed to infectious secretions (e.g., being coughed on
even while wearing a mask); or
● Being within 6 feet for a cumulative duration of 15 minutes, while
wearing a mask;
If either situation occurred at any time in the last 14 days (at the same time the
infected individual was contagious)
Individuals are presumed infectious at least two days prior to symptom onset.
In the case of asymptomatic individuals who are lab-confirmed with COVID-
1419, individuals are presumed infectious two days prior to the date of the
confirming lab test.
Communicating About COVID-19
Designated COVID-19 Points of Contact
To notify the school of an illness, please contact the school office at 432-337-
6431.
The first point of contact for any questions, concerns, or feedback about
COVID-19 policies and procedures are the Head of School and the Assistant
Head of School. They may be reached at 432-337-6431 or at the emails listed
below.
Head of School: Mrs. Kirk, headofschool@stjohnsschoolodessa.com
Communication Regarding Illness
Consistent with applicable law and privacy policies, staff and families should
self-report to the school if they or their student have symptoms of COVID-19, a
positive test for COVID-19, or were exposed to someone with COVID-19 within
the last 14 days in accordance with health information sharing regulations of
COVID-19.
To notify the school of an illness, please contact the school office.
In accordance with state and local law and regulations, St. John’s will notify
local health officials, staff, and families immediately of any lab-confirmed
cases of COVID-19 while maintaining confidentiality in accordance with the
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and FERPA.
People who have had close contact with the person diagnosed with COVID-19
will be required to stay home and self-monitor for symptoms and follow CDC
guidelines if symptoms emerge. (Please refer to the section, Individual with
Close Contact to someone with COVID-19, below) A person with close contact will
not be allowed to return to campus until the Re-entry criteria have been met.
What Happens in Confirmed or Suspected Cases of COVID
15The procedures for dealing with confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19 err
on the side of caution. An individual who is experiencing the symptoms of
COVID-19 is assumed to be infected with COVID-19 until other evidence is
presented.
(From TEA SY 20-21 Public Health Planning Guidance July 7, 2020)
In both suspected cases and confirmed diagnoses of COVID-19, the individual
must stay at home throughout the infection period, and cannot return to
campus until the conditions for campus re-entry have been met.
Individual Diagnosed with COVID-19
The individual may return to school ALL three of the following Re-entry
criteria are met:
1. At least one day (24 hours) has passed since recovery (resolution of
fever without the use of fever-reducing medications.);
2. The individual has improvement in symptoms/return to baseline (e.g.,
cough, shortness of breath, diarrhea, nausea); and
3. At least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared.
Individual with Symptoms-but no Formal Diagnosis of COVID-19
● An individual who has symptoms of COVID-19 and who is not evaluated
by a medical professional or tested for COVID-19 is assumed to have
COVID-19.
● The individual may not return to the campus until the individual has
completed the same three-step set of criteria listed above for confirmed
cases of COVID-19.
Individual with Close Contact to Someone with COVID-19
16• People who have had close contact with a person diagnosed or suspected
COVID-19 will be required to stay home and be advised to self-monitor
for symptoms and follow CDC guidelines if symptoms emerge.
• The individual will not be allowed to return to the campus until 10 days
from the last day of close contact.
• An individual my choose to be tested 5 to 7 days after last exposure. If
the result is negative, he/she may return to school.
• If the individual is fully vaccinated, he/she may return to school and not
quarantine. They must wear a mask for 14 days after last exposure, or
have a negative test result. The test is not valid unless it was done 5 to 7
days after the last exposure.
• If close contact with the individual with confirmed or suspected COVID-
19 continues, they will not be allowed to return to campus until 10 days
after the person with confirmed or Suspected COVID-19 case has met the
Re-entry criteria. Close contact is described as:
○ you were within 6 feet of someone who has COVID-19 for a total of
15 minutes or more whether or not you were wearing a mask;
○ you provided care at home to someone who is sick with COVID-19;
○ you had direct physical contact with the person (hugged or kissed
them);
○ you shared eating or drinking utensils;
○ they sneezed, coughed, or somehow got respiratory droplets on
you. (revised October 15, 2020)
Ruling out COVID-19 to Return to School
If the individual has symptoms that could be COVID-19 and wants to return
school before completing the above stay at home period, the individual must
either
a. Obtain a medical professional’s note clearing the individual for return
based on an alternative diagnosis and is not contagious, or
b. Receive one confirmation at least 24 hours in which they are free of
COVID via acute infection tests at an approved COVID-19 testing location.
When Someone Exhibits Symptoms of COVID-19 on Campus
17St. John’s is implementing several strategies to prepare for when someone
shows initial symptoms of illness when on campus. These include:
● Notification of the Head of School or Assistant Head of School when /if
someone at school shows symptoms of COVID -19
● Isolation of the individual (under the supervision of staff/faculty in the
case of a child)
● Temperature will be taken
● The individual experiencing symptoms will be asked to wear a mask per
CDC guidance. If the person’s condition does not allow wearing a mask;
facial tissue will be provided for the person to use to cover the mouth and
nose.
● Parents or guardians will be notified and asked to pick up the student
● Designated staff will ask questions per local health authority guidelines
for assessment and contract tracing of individuals with suspect COVID-
19.
● The student will be released into parent or guardian care at the exit
closest to the isolation room.
● Adults will go home or to a healthcare facility depending on the severity
of their symptoms.
Common areas used by the sick person will be closed off until the non-porous
surfaces in those areas can be cleaned and disinfected, unless more than 7 days
have already passed since that person was on campus.
Notification of Health Officials and Close Contacts
In accordance with state and local laws and regulations, St. John’s will notify
local health officials, staff and families immediately of any case lab-confirmed
case of COVID-19. Notifications will be made maintaining confidentiality in
accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Family
Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
Promoting Behaviors that Reduce the Spread of COVID-19
18St. John’s Episcopal school is implementing strategies to encourage behaviors
that reduce the spread of COVID-19. These strategies help minimize the
potential of spread in our school and in our community.
No Penalty for Staying Home Due to Illness
● Employees and students who are sick, have been exposed, or who have
recently had close contact with a person with COVID-19 must stay home
in quarantine for 14 days. Showing symptoms of or having been tested
positive for COVID-19 requires the student or staff member to stay home
throughout the infection period.
● Employees and students should not be penalized for doing the right
thing. For employees, personal days/paid time off days will not be
counted for staff members who stay home due to exposure to COVID-19
or due to displaying symptoms of COVID-19. Staff members who are
required to stay home based on our guidelines will not have
personal/PTO days counted against them.
● For students, St. John’s will not offer incentives for perfect attendance.
Students who are absent will be afforded time to catch up in classes
and/or be offered opportunities to continue learning virtually (in case of
an extended absence)
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Please understand that our plans and procedures may change based on updates
to guidance from state and county authorities, the Ector County Health
Department, and the CDC.
SHOULD MY CHILD RETURN TO SCHOOL?
Per guidance issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics, we strongly encourage all children,
to return to school on August 18. If your child has a pre-existing condition or unique medical
need, please make sure you have communicated that to the school office.
IF WE HAVE A CONFIRMED COVID CASE, WILL THE WHOLE CLASS BE
REQUIRED TO QUARANTINE FOR 10 DAYS?
19Current guidance from the CDC states that an individual who has had close contact with a
person with confirmed COVID-19 should quarantine for 10 days after last exposure. Therefore,
close contact is defined as less than 6 feet for more than 15 minutes, irrespective of whether
the person with COVID-19 or the contact was wearing a face covering.
Note that due to privacy restrictions, we will not be able to release identifying information on
the individual with confirmed COVID-19.
WHAT IF A TEACHER GETS COVID?
If a faculty member is confirmed to have COVID-19, all individuals who have determined to
have had close contact with the faculty member will be notified to quarantine for 10 days.
Note that due to privacy restrictions, we will not be able to release identifying information on
the individual with confirmed COVID-19.
WILL REPEAT TESTING AND A NEGATIVE PCR PANEL BE
REQUIRED FOR A STUDENT/TEACHER TO COME BACK TO
SCHOOL?
This will not be required. Students/faculty with confirmed COVID-19 may return to school
when they have met all of the following criteria set by the CDC:
● Fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication;
● Improvement of symptoms; and
● 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared.
If an individual has symptoms that could be COVID-19 and he or she wants to return to school
before meeting the three criteria, the individual must:
● Obtain a medical professional’s note clearing the individual for return based on an
alternative diagnosis; or
● Receive one confirmation of a negative result at least 24 hours after the individual is
free of COVID-19 via acute infection tests at an approved COVID-19 location.
DOES A STUDENT/TEACHER WITH CONFIRMED COVID-19 OR
COVID-19 SYMPTOMS NEED A DOCTOR’S NOTE TO RETURN TO
SCHOOL?
Students/faculty with confirmed COVID-19 may return to school when they have met all of the
following criteria set by the CDC:
20● Fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication;
● Improvement of symptoms; and
● 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared.
IF WE HAVE A CONFIRMED COVID CASE, WILL EVERY CLASS
THAT THE STUDENT/TEACHER ATTENDS/INSTRUCTS BE ASKED
TO QUARANTINE?
Per guidance from the CDC, quarantining is based on close contact with an individual who is
confirmed to have COVID-19. Close contact is defined as less than 6 feet for more than 15
minutes, irrespective of whether the person with COVID-19 or the contact was wearing a face
covering.
Note that due to privacy restrictions, we will not be able to release identifying information on
the individual with confirmed COVID-19.
WILL ALL STUDENTS BE REQUIRED TO BE TESTED?
St. John’s will defer to each person’s health care provider to decide if testing (diagnostic or
antibody) is indicated. The school will not administer COVID-19 tests.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF A STUDENT STARTS SHOWING COVID
SYMPTOMS ON CAMPUS?
St. John’s policies are based on the current public health situation with the guidance from the
CDC.
● Any student who shows COVID-19 symptoms while at school will be immediately
separated until the student can be picked up by a parent or guardian. An isolation area
has been established away from the students and classes. Parents will be advised to
contact their health care provider on how best to proceed.
● If COVID-19 is confirmed, the student must stay home until all of the following criteria
are met:
● Fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication;
● Improvement of symptoms; and
● 14 days have passed since symptoms first appeared.
~If a positive case is confirmed, St. John’s will contact the Ector County Health department for
guidance on school closure, quarantining, and additional cleaning procedures.
21~If a positive case is confirmed, St. John’s will notify all teachers, staff, and families of students
consistent with legal confidentiality requirements. Those individuals who have had close
contact with the confirmed case will be notified to quarantine.
~If an individual has had close contact with someone confirmed to have COVID-19, he/she must
stay home for 14 days after exposure. The CDC defines close contact as less than 6 feet for
more than 15 minutes, irrespective of whether the person with COVID-19 or the contact was
wearing a face covering.
ABOUT THIS GUIDE
The policies in this guide are deemed guidelines. Due to this document being deemed a living
document, St. John’s Episcopal School may have to change, delete, suspend or discontinue any
part or parts of the policies, procedures or guidelines at any time without prior notice. Any
such action shall apply to existing as well as future employees. No one other than the Head of
School, or, by resolution, the Board of Trustees may alter or modify the policies in this guide.
Revised 8/3/2021
8/16/2021
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